Eagletarian Blog

RUSHING OFFENSE

Eagles averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and didn’t have a run longer than 9 yards. But they ran the ball effectively on their game-clinching 89-yard drive early in the fourth quarter and notched 2 rushing touchdowns for the second game in a row. Grade: B

PASSING OFFENSE

DeSean Jackson recorded his fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season and had a big 59-yard third-and-2 catch on the Eagles’ 89-yard scoring drive. But Donovan McNabb had a very uneven performance, throwing two interceptions, including one in the end zone, and overthrowing a wide-wide-open Jackson on a third-quarter pass.Grade: B

RUN DEFENSE

The Eagles’ top priority was stopping tight end Vernon Davis. So they went with an extra corner and just two linebackers much of the game, which left them susceptible to the run, which was a big reason Frank Gore rushed for 107 yards on 16 carries. But 4 of Gore’s 6 second-half runs gained 3 yards or less. Grade: C

PASS DEFENSE

The Eagles held QB Alex Smith to a puny 4.7 yards per attempt, sacked him 3 times and also intercepted him 3 times. They held the Niners’ dangerous tight end, Vernon Davis, to 3 receptions for 43 yards. Grade: A

SPECIAL TEAMS

Quintin Demps opened the game with a 48-yard kickoff return that kick-started yet another first-possession score. Eagles’ punt coverage was outstanding, but their kickoff coverage again was shaky (30.5 yards per attempt). DeSean Jackson had just one PR for 6 yards. Grade: B

OVERALL

If nothing else, the Eagles proved they can win even when Donovan McNabb doesn’t bring his `A’ game. Sean McDermott’s defense racked up 4 more takeaways, put a muzzle on TE Vernon Davis and did a much better job of tackling than they did a week earlier. Grade: B-plus